Are the Democrats ever, ever, ever going to stand up to the school bully? No wonder they can’t get elected. Who wants to hang out with some dufus who lets everyone knock his glasses off, kick his books across the hall and spit on him?

The Neo-Conservative movement has been brilliant at framing the issues, defining all the terms. They define everything so shrewdly that if you disagree with them, you’re soft on terror, soft on crime, you hate America and you want Osama bin Laden to take over the White House.

Maybe, just maybe, the Democrats might find somebody — anybody — who is equally skilled at framing and defining the issues. In this era of soundbites and slogans, it doesn’t matter who’s right or wrong. Like it or not, millions of voters are swayed by the demagogue with the slickest soundbite; the speaker who yells the loudest.

For five years the Democrats have either tried to be Bush Lite, or they’ve meekly responded to vicious personal attacks with “No I don’t hate America.” “No I don’t want the terrorists to win.” “No I didn’t rape my granddaughter.” “No I don’t ejaculate on the Bible while performing Satanic rituals.” Etc.

Today’s trumped up vote in the House was yet another example. Our Representatives could either say:

“Everything is just hunky dory in Iraq and I want us to stay and stay and stay;” or

“I wet the bed and I want the terrorists to win.”

Yet again, the belligerent steamrolling Republicans framed the debate, defined all the terms, set the trap — and the Democrats walked right into it. Will this ever change?

One of your best yet. SO WELL SAID! I read it out loud to my husband and he more than agrees. You have expressed what many of us are feeling and made us chuckle, too! We need representatives (Democrats or a viable alternative) who don't so easily herd. Right now Americans are being encouraged to behave like Lemmings. Let's all go jump off a cliff into the water for god and country - I THINK NOT!

Kitchen Window Woman: Thanks. Yeah, that was pretty sad the way the Democrats just buckled under. Bush and Rove have been using these steamrolling tactics for five years now; I keep hoping the Democrats will come up a better way to counter these smear tactics.

One Republican (I forget his name, I hadn't heard of him before) voted with the Democrats. He gave an excellent speech on the House floor. He's already being Swiftboated on some of the rightwing blogs.